Εβδομάδα 12: curve balls & faith (and lots of it)
Hey everyone!
Wow what a roller coaster of a week. Plans falling apart, learning how fun, hard, and wonderful missionary work is at the same time, and ultimately just following the Spirit and trusting Heavenly Father in everything. I'm learning to love the people here, but honestly it's easier said than done sometimes 😅 Especially when half the people we plan to meet with cancel last minute or are just complete no-shows. Either way, Sister Merkel and I have continued having great experiences together!
Our go-to spot for finding is the center because there's always crowds of people walking through. This past week has been so empty tho, who knew Greece had so many holidays?! Anyways, Αδελφή Merkel and I haven't been having much luck lately and have been getting a little discouraged. We were whiteboard finding for almost 2 hours with the elders with little success. The elders had to leave and we thought we might as well leave with them and try again tomorrow. But then Πρεσβύτερος Amos said, "you know, the last 5 minutes can be the most important part of your finding, you just got to have faith." Of course we kinda just whatevered it and just thought "yeah mhmmm okay". But then thought, "ya know what, let's actually try that out." And what do ya know, 10 seconds later we struck up a conversation with 2 men and they literally asked if they could have a Book of Mormon to read themselves before we even had the chance to offer them one! Um what?? Heavenly Father definitely sent them right to us at the most convenient time. Downfall was that they needed one in their native tongue, Kurdish, and we didn't have that one with us. But either way, lesson learned: doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith! 😉
Every morning we wake up to cats screaming, it seriously sounds like little kids saying "owww" so it's a little creepy. We were gonna do μελέτη γλώσσας (lang study) outside but my bike had other plans when the tire went flat. So we had to detour and take time to fix that up. Eventually made it to the White Tower for language study where a huge stray pup decided to pop a squat right between Αδελφή Merkel and I, it's like we're at the puppy barn most of the day, no complaints. After we met with an investigator who loves to do nails, we snuck in a lesson about baptism and the Book of Mormon with her 😏 Whiteboard finding today was...interesting... I guess you could say. Πρεσβύτερος Albertson chose the question..."Ποια είναι η αγαπημένη σας τόπος στην Ελλάδα;" (*What's your favorite place in Greece?*). Some of our group questioned him and asked, "how are we suppose to relate that to the gospel?!". And then with the next guy that comes by, Elder A shows us just how it's done. I actually enjoyed doing this because it shows everyone that literally everything can be looped back to the gospel somehow 😎
Our go-to spot for finding is the center because there's always crowds of people walking through. This past week has been so empty tho, who knew Greece had so many holidays?! Anyways, Αδελφή Merkel and I haven't been having much luck lately and have been getting a little discouraged. We were whiteboard finding for almost 2 hours with the elders with little success. The elders had to leave and we thought we might as well leave with them and try again tomorrow. But then Πρεσβύτερος Amos said, "you know, the last 5 minutes can be the most important part of your finding, you just got to have faith." Of course we kinda just whatevered it and just thought "yeah mhmmm okay". But then thought, "ya know what, let's actually try that out." And what do ya know, 10 seconds later we struck up a conversation with 2 men and they literally asked if they could have a Book of Mormon to read themselves before we even had the chance to offer them one! Um what?? Heavenly Father definitely sent them right to us at the most convenient time. Downfall was that they needed one in their native tongue, Kurdish, and we didn't have that one with us. But either way, lesson learned: doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith! 😉
Every morning we wake up to cats screaming, it seriously sounds like little kids saying "owww" so it's a little creepy. We were gonna do μελέτη γλώσσας (lang study) outside but my bike had other plans when the tire went flat. So we had to detour and take time to fix that up. Eventually made it to the White Tower for language study where a huge stray pup decided to pop a squat right between Αδελφή Merkel and I, it's like we're at the puppy barn most of the day, no complaints. After we met with an investigator who loves to do nails, we snuck in a lesson about baptism and the Book of Mormon with her 😏 Whiteboard finding today was...interesting... I guess you could say. Πρεσβύτερος Albertson chose the question..."Ποια είναι η αγαπημένη σας τόπος στην Ελλάδα;" (*What's your favorite place in Greece?*). Some of our group questioned him and asked, "how are we suppose to relate that to the gospel?!". And then with the next guy that comes by, Elder A shows us just how it's done. I actually enjoyed doing this because it shows everyone that literally everything can be looped back to the gospel somehow 😎
We had a solid lesson with a recent convert about patriarchal blessings! She accepted our invitation and is even preparing for the temple and getting a recommend on Sunday! It was like a proud mom moment for us 😊 Then she hit us with a curve ball and said "oh yeah I'm also meeting with the Jehovah Witnesses tomorrow and having coffee". Like what?!? Bit taken back by that plot twist but we know she has a strong testimony and knows the church is true so if anything she'll be the missionary to them in that meeting... fingers crossed.
So yeppp, that's it for this week!
Spiritual thought: As we "seek this Jesus" (Ether 12:41), we can be "filled with His love" (Mosiah 4: 11-12). The Savior knows us personally and individually. When we see others from the outside and assume their life is "perfect", we can feel inadequate to our own potential. BUT, the Lord always knows what is on the inside. He succors His people and will "not leave you comfortless" (John 14:18).
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Gale 💛
PICS!
1. Up on Mars Hill in Athens! Where Paul preached to the Greek people, such a beautiful view
2. The Parthenon! This is the place in one of the bible photographs, way cool
3. The pup that interrupted our language study 😍
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